Department of Agriculture March 18, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This Notice announces the Department's annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals or free milk for the period from July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006. These guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program (and Commodity School Program), School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program. The annual adjustments are required by section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The guidelines are intended to direct benefits to those children most in need and are revised annually to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index.

The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed action to improve forest health conditions within the 46,175-acre Kelsey planning area. An analysis was initiated to assess tree density and hazardous fuels and associated forest related concerns of wildfire, insect infestations, and disease pathogens. Methods that would be used to reduce tree density and hazardous fuels are: Non-commercial and commercial thinning, mechanical shrub treatment, and prescribed burning. The planning area is located adjacent to the southern urban growth boundary of Bend, Oregon, east and adjacent to the Deschutes River and the community of Sunriver, north of Forest Road 9720, and west of Forest Road 1810. The planning area is a combination of public lands (99%), managed by the Deschutes National Forest, and private lands (1%). The alternatives will include the proposed action, no action, and additional alternatives that respond to issues generated through the scoping process. The agency will give notice of the full environmental analysis and decision-making process so interested and affected public may participate and contribute to the final decision.

We are adopting as a final rule, with changes, an interim rule that established regulations governing the possession, use, and transfer of biological agents and toxins that have been determined to have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety, to animal health, to plant health, or to animal or plant products. This action is necessary to protect animal and plant health, and animal and plant products.